Permit· Willemstad· Other Caribbean
Willemstad Clearance (Customs, Immigration & Harbour Master)
12° 6.4′ N · 68° 55.9′ W · approximate
Every yacht clears in at Willemstad, visiting Immigration, Customs and the Harbour Master, who issues the anchoring permit that makes Spanish Water and the other bays legal.
Practical
Bring ship's registration, all passports and the clearance from your last port (CPA). Required: Immigration (register crew), Customs (declare goods), Harbour Master (clear in and buy the anchoring permit, administration fee non-refundable). Per Virgintino (2015): Customs is in Punda next to the floating market; Immigration and the Port Authority were under the Queen Juliana Bridge on the Otrobanda side; the anchoring permit then cost a one-time USD 10 (verify locally); approved anchorages Fuik Baai, Spanish Water, Piscadera Bay, Santa Martha and Santa Cruz. Coast Guard patrols check clearance and permit. Most boats anchor in Spanish Water first and bus to town to clear (allowed in practice per the guide - confirm with the Coast Guard). Yachts may stay 6 months with crew; foreign crew max 180 days; imported goods otherwise attract 11.5% duty plus 2% sales tax (CPA). Firearms are held by Customs until departure. To enter St Anna Bay call the Port Authority/bridge on VHF 12 (Virgintino). Coordinate approx: Punda waterfront near the floating market, derived from OSM Marshe/Handelskade positions.
Best for
Clearing into Curaçao
Nearby
- Willemstad Floating MarketRight here
- Curaçao Maritime Museum0.1 NM away
- Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue0.1 NM away
- ABC Trade-Wind Season & Hurricane Exposure0.2 NM away
- Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival0.2 NM away
- Fort Amsterdam (Willemstad)0.2 NM away
- Handelskade & Queen Emma Bridge (Willemstad)0.2 NM away
- Museum Kura Hulanda0.2 NM away